How Solar Panels Work In Space

Solar panels on spacecraft supply power for two main uses.

How solar panels work in space.

Solar panels actually work much better in space than on earth for a long series of reason. Power to run the sensors active heating cooling and telemetry. When it is extended it can generate 1 unit of electricity per second statically. Space based solar power sbsp is the concept of collecting solar power in outer space and distributing it to earth potential advantages of collecting solar energy in space include a higher collection rate and a longer collection period due to the lack of a diffusing atmosphere and the possibility of placing a solar collector in an orbiting location where there is no night.

For both uses a key figure of merit of the solar panels is the specific power watts generated divided by solar array mass which indicates on a relative basis how much. As a guide each panel can produce 50 60kw of power so you can produce up to about 1mw of power. It generates electricity regardless of position and orientation as long as it is extended. At earth s distance from the sun solar flux is 1400 w m.

1 the sun is not dimmed by the atmosphere. The best way to make use of solar energy is to set up device grouping in the control panel. Nasa s grapefruit sized vanguard 1 satellite was the first to use solar cells when it was launched in 1958 and solar panels are still used extensively in space. How does it work.

Power for spacecraft propulsion electric propulsion sometimes called solar electric propulsion. How do solar panels work to generate electricity. On earth in ideal conditions think sahara you get. Both parts function in similar capacities however the array with its larger.

A standard solar panel also known as a solar module consists of a layer of silicon cells a metal frame a glass casing and various wiring to allow current to flow from the silicon cells silicon atomic 14 on the periodic table is a nonmetal with conductive properties that allow it to absorb and convert sunlight into electricity. This means in order to make a base sustainable you re looking at a maximum of 300kw of consumption. Solar panel is a part that can be extended and closed when attached to a controllable vehicle. Another similar part is the solar panel array.